Nucleic acid of novel human kinesin-related gene protein encoded by the nucleic acid peptide fragment thereof and anticancer agents comprising the nucleic acid and the like

ABSTRACT

There are provided base sequence data for human kinesin-related genes with a motor domain, as well as information relating to the functions of the proteins encoded by the human kinesin-related gene and the motor domain-lacking human kinesin-related gene, which data may be utilized for diagnosis (for example, judging prognosis of neuroblastoma) and treatment (particularly as antisense nucleic acids for malignant tumors).

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This invention relates to novel human kinesin-related genes, to information on proteins encoded by the genes, and to their application for the treatment of or for diagnosing prognosis of cancer.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Substance Transport in Neurons

[0003] Different substances are transported in neuronal axons by specific systems, and such transport is classified as two types, either “fast transport” or “slow transport”, depending on the speed. “Fast transport” includes both anterograde transport in the direction from the cell body to the axon terminal, and retrograde transport in the opposite direction. “Fast transport” is oriented movement, generally inside the cell, and it is produced by the motion of intracellular organelle-attached molecular motors (motor proteins) on microtubules.

[0004] Role of Kinesin in Axonal Transport

[0005] Kinesin carries intracellular organelles in the plus end direction of microtubules, accomplishing fast anterograde transport in the neuronal axon. The kinesin molecule is a heterotetramer comprised of two 120 kDa heavy chains and two 64 kDa light chains. The N-terminal end of the heavy chain forms a globular head constituting a motor domain which binds with ATP and microtubules, and extends to form a rod-shaped stalk and fan-shaped tail, with a total length of approximately 80 nm (Hirokawa N. et al., Cell 56:867-878, (1989)). The light chain may be any of 3 molecular species, produced by splicing (Cyr J L. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:10114-10118, (1991)), and differ depending on the particular organ. The light chain attaches to the tail of the heavy chain, and binding to membrane organelles occurs at the heavy chain tail/light chain portions.

[0006] Kinesin-Related Genes

[0007] Several kinesin-related genes have recently been discovered, and their protein structures elucidated. These kinesin-related genes have highly conserved motor domain structures (Eyer J. et al., Nature 391:584-587 (1998)). Over 30 different kinesin-related proteins have been discovered in mice to date, all having motor structures (Gibbons I R. et al., Cell Motil. Cytoskel. 32:136-144 (1995)), and they are collectively known as the kinesin superfamily. A phylogenetic tree of the kinesin superfamily has recently been published (Hirokawa N. et al., Science 279:519-526 (1998)), and several of the members have been found to be involved in axonal transport.

[0008] The kinesin superfamily is being actively researched in mice, where it is designated as KIF (Aizawa H. et al., J. Cell Biol. 199:1287-1296 (1992)), and the members are largely divided into three groups based on the position of the motor domain (at the N-terminal end, at the central part or at the C-terminal end).

[0009] N-Terminal Motor Kinesin Superfamily

[0010] The N-terminal motor kinesin superfamily is further divided into the KHC, Unc104, RP85/95, BimC, MKLP1 and chromokinesin subfamilies. Among these, the BimC family has not been identified in mammals.

[0011] The KHC family includes three members identified in mice (KIF5B, KIF5A, KIF5C) and two in humans (HsuKHC, HsnKHC), while only one has been identified in invertebrates. This family can be divided into the ubiquitous members (KIF5B, HsuKHC) and nerve system-specific members (KIF5A, KIF5C, HsnKHC). HsnKHC is distributed throughout the nerve cell body and HsuKHC is found in the axon as well (Niclas J. et al., Neuron 12:1059-1072 (1994)).

[0012] The Unc104 family has not been identified in humans, but KIF1A and KIF1B are known in mice. KIF1A is a large 1695 amino acid, 200 kDa protein which works with a single head and carries synaptic vesicle precursors toward the plus microtubule end at a speed of 1.2-1.5 μm/s (Okada Y. et al., Cell 81:769-780 (1995)). Gene targeting results in serious kinesthetic impairment, and leads to death shortly after birth.

[0013] KIF1B is comprised of 1150 amino acids and also works with a single head, carrying mitochondria toward the plus microtubule end at a speed of 0.5 μm/s (Nangaku M. et al., Cell 79:1209-1220 (1994)).

[0014] Murine KIF3A and KIF3B of the RP85/95 family exist as a two-headed heterodimer, and form a heterotrimer in association with KAP3. These kinesin-related proteins are non-neuron-specific and carry membrane vesicles, which are larger than synapse vesicles, toward the microtubule plus end at a speed of 0.3 μm/s (Yamazaki H. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93:8443-8448 (1996)).

[0015] One member of the MKLP family is known in humans (human MKLP). Human MKLP1 carries out functions for spindle elongation in anaphase B, formation of contractile rings and completion of cytoplasmic division.

[0016] Murine KIF4 of the chromokinesin family is comprised of 1231 amino acids, and has a length of 116 nm with two heads. It moves at a speed of 0.2 μm/s, transporting membrane vesicles to growth cones. In the adult body it is most abundant in the immune system organs (Shingyoji C. et al., Nature 393:711-714 (1998)).

[0017] Central Motor Kinesin Superfamily

[0018] The central motor kinesin superfamily has not been identified in humans. Murine KIF2 is a two-headed 81 kDA protein which moves toward the microtubule plus end at a speed of 0.4 μm/s. This kinesin-related protein is non-neuron-specific, but is expressed in the juvenile nerve system where it carries out transport of membrane vesicles to growth cones (Noda Y. et al., J. Cell Biol. 129:157-167 (1995)).

[0019] C-Terminal Motor Kinesin Superfamily

[0020] The C-terminal motor kinesin superfamily has also not been identified in humans. Three different murine kinesins are known in this superfamily (KIFC1, KIFC2, KIFC3). KIFC2 is absent in the peripheral nerves, abundant in dendrites, and mainly carries multivesicular bodies toward the ends of dendrites (Saito N. et al., Neuron 18:425-438 (1997)).

[0021] Cloning of Novel Human Kinesin-Related Gene Fragments

[0022] cDNA for KIAA0591 (GenBank accession number: AB011163) has been cloned from a molecular weight fractionated human brain cDNA library (Nagase T. et al., DNA Res. 5:31-39 (1998)).

[0023] The cDNA consisted of 5368 bases and is a partial fragment of a novel gene which is highly homologous to the synapse vesicle transporter gene in human neuronal axons. Since the 5′ end of the KIAA0591 cDNA lacked the transcription initiation codon and was shorter than the corresponding approximately 9.5 kb transcription product, this suggested the existence of longer full-length cDNA.

[0024] The present inventors, therefore, screened a human substantia nigra cDNA library in order to obtain the full-length cDNA including KIAA0591, but without succeeding in elucidating the full-length cDNA; and its function hence remains unknown.

[0025] However, in the course of attempting to elucidate the full-length cDNA for KIAA0591, the present inventors also discovered a kinesin-related gene with no portion corresponding to the motor domain seen ubiquitously in the kinesin superfamily. The base sequence for the translation region of this gene is set forth in SEQ ID NO: 3 in the Sequence Listing, and the protein translated from this region is set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, respectively.

[0026] It was also discovered that the gene is located at 36.2-36.3 on the small arm of human chromosome 1, which has been found to be often deficient in neuroblastomas and the like, that no mutations are found in the region encoding this gene in 8 types of neuroblastoma and 15 types of neuroblastoma-derived cell lines, and that it is expressed in a wide range of adult tissues and strongly expressed in the brain, kidney, skeletal muscle and pancrea, particularly in the brain of a human fetus (Nakagawara A. et al., International Journal of Oncology 16:907-916 (2000)).

[0027] Nevertheless, the function of the motor domain-lacking kinesin related gene and its protein had remained unclear.

[0028] Anchorage-Independent Growth and Cancer

[0029] Normal adherent cells require adhesion to a firm anchor in order to proliferate. When cultured on a non-adherable substance surface, the cells will survive for an extended period but will not proliferate. For example, when normal cells are suspended in a non-anchoring semi-solid medium such as agarose gel, life-supporting metabolism is carried out but growth is suppressed. On the other hand, malignantly transformed cells such as cancer cells (or oncocytes) generally lack the requirement for adhesion, and thus form colonies and grow even when suspended in non-anchoring semi-solid medium. This characteristic is very strongly implicated in the tumor-forming ability of malignantly transformed cells. Specifically, cells that proliferate in an anchorage-independent manner are efficient at forming tumors when injected into animals (See Darnell et al., Molecular Cell Biology, Second Edition 24:963-967 (1993)).

[0030] Cell Adhesion and Cancer Infiltration/Metastasis

[0031] Cancer is malignant because of its ability to infiltrate and metastasize. While research toward elucidating the mechanism has been actively pursued to date, infiltration and metastasis are complex phenomena that occur as a result of conflict between cancer cells and host cells, and the complete picture is not yet fully understood. Hematogenous metastasis is established by infiltration of cancer cells from primary lesions, intravasation, transport, colonization, extravasation and initial stage growth. Lymphogenous metastasis, disseminated metastasis and intracanalicular metastasis are also thought to involve similar processes. Adhesion and dissociation between cancer cell/cancer cell, cancer cell/normal cell and cancer cell/extracellular matrix occur throughout all of these processes.

[0032] Because reduced adhesion between cancer cells is seen in many types of cancer, there has been a focus on its connection with the cells' capability of infiltration and metastasis. Cancer cells contact many and various normal cells during the course of their metastasis. The cancer cells adhering to endothelial cells include those encapsulated by endothelial cells, those that adhere to the endothelial cell apical surface and those that are covered by the epithelial cell basal surface, and these are closely connected with intravasation and extravasation of the cancer cells. Adhesion between cancer cells and the extracellular matrix is also ubiquitously observed. Other observations have suggested cell fusion and death of normal cells occurring after adhesion of cancer cells to normal cells (Turuo, T. et al.: “Ganten'i no Bunshikiko” [Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer Metastasis], Medical View Publishing (1993)).

[0033] As stated above, the function of the novel motor domain-lacking kinesin-related gene and its encoded protein previously discovered by the present inventors had remained unknown. In addition, despite prediction of the existence of the full-length cDNA including KIAA0591, it had not yet been confirmed or identified.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0034] This invention has been accomplished in light of the circumstances described above. An object of the invention is to provide base sequence data for a novel human kinesin-related gene having a motor domain. The invention further provides information relating to the function of the proteins encoded by the novel human kinesin-related gene with a motor domain and by the kinesin-related gene without a motor domain.

[0035] As a result of much diligent research, the present inventors have succeeded in cloning by Rapid Amplification of cDNA Ends (RACE) a novel gene having a longer 5′ end than the kinesin-related gene without a motor domain (SEQ ID NO: 3), and in sequencing the full-length cDNA of this kinesin-related gene with a motor domain. For convenience, the novel kinesin-related gene with a motor domain has been designated as KIF1b-β, and its cDNA sequence (base sequence) is set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 in the Sequence Listing.

[0036] The present inventors also discovered that expression of the KIF1b-β gene is enhanced only in neuroblastoma clinical tissue with favorable prognosis.

[0037] It was further discovered that suppressing expression of the KIF1b-β gene and the kinesin-related gene without a motor domain using antisense RNA allows anchorage-independent growth of normal cells which inherently grow only in an anchorage-dependent manner, or in other words, that these genes function to control canceration of normal cells.

[0038] The present inventors still further discovered that normal cells undergo tumorigenesis when expression of the KIF1b-β gene and the novel kinesin-related gene without a motor domain are suppressed using antisense RNA. Thus, loss of these genes facilitates tumorigenesis of normal cells.

[0039] In summary, this invention provides the nucleic acids and proteins or their pharmaceutically acceptable salts described in 1-12 below. The invention also provides the use of the nucleic acids and proteins or their pharmaceutically acceptable salts for treatment or diagnosis as described in 13-17 below.

[0040] 1. A nucleic acid having the base sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 in the Sequence Listing.

[0041] 2. A nucleic acid having a base sequence encoding a protein comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 in the Sequence Listing.

[0042] 3. A nucleic acid which is a fragment of the nucleic acid according to 1. or 2. above.

[0043] 4. A nucleic acid capable of hybridizing to the nucleic acid according to any one of 1. to 3. above.

[0044] 5. A nucleic acid having the base sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 7 in the Sequence Listing.

[0045] 6. An antisense nucleic acid to a nucleic acid according to 1. or 2. above.

[0046] 7. An antisense nucleic acid having the base sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 7 in the Sequence Listing, characterized by promoting anchorage-independent growth of normal cells upon introduction into normal cells.

[0047] 8. A protein having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 in the Sequence Listing, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

[0048] 9. A protein having an amino acid sequence substantially identical to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 in the Sequence Listing and whose absence induces tumorigenesis of normal cells, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

[0049] 10. The protein according to 9. above, characterized in that the amino acid sequence substantially identical to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 in the Sequence Listing is an amino acid sequence derivable by the substitution or the deletion of one or more amino acids in the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 in the Sequence Listing, or by the addition of one or more amino acids to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 in the Sequence Listing, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

[0050] 11. A protein having an the amino acid sequence derivable by the substitution or the deletion of one or more amino acids in the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, or by the addition of one or more amino acids to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 and whose absence induces tumorigenesis of normal cells, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt.

[0051] 12. A partial peptide which is a functionally effective fragment of a protein having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 in the Sequence Listing, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

[0052] 13. An anticancer agent comprising a protein having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 in the Sequence Listing, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

[0053] 14. An anticancer agent comprising a protein having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 in the Sequence Listing, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

[0054] 15. An anticancer agent comprising a nucleic acid having the base sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 3 in the Sequence Listing.

[0055] 16. An anticancer agent comprising a nucleic acid having the base sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 in the Sequence Listing.

[0056] 17. A method for diagnosing prognosis of human neuroblastoma, characterized by detecting the nucleic acid according to 1. above or a fragment thereof in a neuroblastoma clinical tissue sample.

[0057] 18. A nucleic acid probe comprising the following nucleic acid (a) or (b):

[0058] (a) Nucleic acid having a portion of the base sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 in the Sequence Listing, or a base sequence complementary thereto;

[0059] (b) Nucleic acid which hybridizes to nucleic acid having the base sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 in the Sequence Listing under stringent conditions.

[0060] 19. A primer comprising the following DNA (a) or (b):

[0061] (a) DNA having a portion of the base sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 in the Sequence Listing, or a base sequence complementary thereto;

[0062] (b) DNA which hybridizes to DNA having the base sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 in the Sequence Listing under stringent conditions.

[0063] 20. A prognosis diagnosing kit for neuroblastoma comprising as an effective component thereof, the probe according to 18. above or the primer according to 19. above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0064]FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B are both representations corresponding to electrophoresis photographs showing the results of examining KIF1b-β gene expression in human neuroblastomas with favorable prognosis and with unfavorable prognosis, respectively, by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. In the figures, Lanes 1-16 represent clinical tissue samples of human neuroblastomas with favorable prognosis, and lanes 17-32 represent clinical tissue samples of human neuroblastomas with unfavorable prognosis.

[0065]FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing of the GSE method used in the Examples.

[0066]FIG. 3A is a representation corresponding to the photograph of soft agarose gel showing growth as a result of anchorage-independent growth of murine mammary gland cells having the KIF1b-β gene and a motor domain-lacking kinesin-related gene antisense (KIFAS) inserted therein using a retrovirus vector.

[0067]FIG. 3B is a representation corresponding to the photograph of soft agarose gel showing the results of anchorage-independent growth of murine mammary gland cells having a neomycin resistance gene inserted therein as a negative control using a retrovirus vector.

[0068]FIG. 4 is a graph showing growth curves for NMuMG cancer cells having the KIF1b-β gene inserted therein using an adenovirus vector.

[0069]FIG. 5 is a graph showing growth curves for NB-C201 cells having the KIF1b-β gene inserted therein using an adenovirus vector.

[0070]FIG. 6 is a representation corresponding to the photograph owing tumorigenesis as a result of nude mouse femoral subcutaneous transplantation of murine mammary gland cells having KIFAS inserted therein using a retrovirus vector.

[0071]FIG. 6B is a representation corresponding to the photograph showing the results of nude mouse femoral subcutaneous transplantation of murine mammary gland cells having a neomycin resistance gene inserted therein as a negative control.

[0072]FIG. 7 is a graph of the mouse tumorigenesis shown in FIG. 6A, with tumor size (tumor volume) plotted against time.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0073] The construction and preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail.

[0074] The phrase, “protein having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1” as used throughout the present specification may refer not only to a protein encoded by the nucleic acid set forth in SEQ ID NO: 3, but also to any protein with substantially equivalent activity. A protein with substantially equivalent activity is one having an amino acid sequence substantially identical to the amino acid. sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1. The latter amino acid sequence may be, for example, an amino acid sequence derivable by the substitution or the deletion of one or more amino acids in the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, or by the addition of one or more amino acids to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1. Also, the phrase “protein having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2” has an exactly corresponding meaning, and may refer not only to a protein encoded by the nucleic acid set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4, but also to any protein with substantially equivalent activity.

[0075] The phrase, “nucleic acid having the base sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 3” as used throughout the present specification may also refer to nucleic acid having a base sequence encoding a protein with substantially equivalent activity to the protein encoded by the nucleic acid set forth in SEQ ID NO: 3. The phrase “nucleic acid having the base sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4” has an exactly corresponding meaning, and may also refer to nucleic acid having a base sequence encoding a protein with substantially equivalent activity to the protein encoded by the nucleic acid set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4. Such nucleic acids and protein variants may be prepared according to techniques known to one skilled in the art such as site-specific mutation, based on the base sequence information of the aforementioned nucleic acids.

[0076] The term “nucleic acid” as used throughout the present specification refers to DNA or RNA which encodes a protein as defined above or a partial peptide as a functionally effective fragment of the protein, which is complementary to a nucleic acid encoding such a protein or partial peptide, or which hybridizes to such nucleic acid under “stringent” conditions.

[0077] When the amount of expression of a nucleic acid of this invention is compared in neuroblastomas with favorable prognosis and with unfavorable prognosis, it is found to be expressed in greater amounts in neuroblastomas with favorable prognosis. Introducing antisense (nucleic acid) (described below) to the nucleic acid into normal cells promotes anchorage-independent growth of the normal cells and increases tumorigenesis. For these reasons, the nucleic acids of the invention are thought to have at least the function of maintaining biological normality (for example, suppressing cell canceration).

[0078] Thus, the nucleic acids of this invention (including their fragments), the proteins or partial peptides encoded by the nucleic acids (hereunder also referred to collectively as “proteins of the invention”) and antisense for the nucleic acids may be used for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of the different diseases mentioned below (particularly malignant tumors).

[0079] (1) Usefulness for Diagnosis

[0080] The nucleic acids, proteins and partial peptides of this invention, as well as antibodies for the proteins and partial peptides, are useful for diagnosis.

[0081] Specifically, these molecules may be used for detecting diseases (such as neuroblastoma) or disorders wherein increase or decrease in expression of the proteins of the invention or their partial peptides plays a role, by any of various assay methods, for the purpose of prognosis prediction, diagnosis and monitoring.

[0082] There are no particular limitations on methods of immunoassay using antibodies for the proteins of the invention or their partial peptides, and there may be mentioned various competitive and non-competitive assay methods using such techniques as Western blotting, radioimmunoassay, ELISA, “sandwich” immunoassay, immunoprecipitation, precipitin reaction, gel differentiation precipitation reaction, immunodiffusion assay, agglutination assay, complement-binding assay, immunoradiometric assay, fluorescent immunoassay and protein A immunoassay.

[0083] When using a nucleic acid of the invention for diagnosis, it may be used as a hybridization probe or as a PCR primer for detection of enhanced gene expression in cell specimens to identify prognosis. The enhanced gene expression can be examined by any method using as the probe a base sequence which hybridizes to any desired sequence among the base sequences disclosed by the invention. Preferably, a radioactive isotope-labeled probe is used for assay by Southern or Northern blotting. If the amount of nucleic acid hybridizing to the probe in the cell specimen is enhanced, diagnosis of favorable prognosis may be rendered. When the nucleic acid is used as a primer for PCR, RNA may be extracted from the specimen (cells) to be examined and the gene expression may be semi-quantitatively measured by RT-PCR.

[0084] (2) Usefulness for Treatment

[0085] The nucleic acids, proteins and partial peptides of the invention are useful agents for treatment of diseases and disorders with which any of these are associated.

[0086] According to one embodiment of the invention, a pharmaceutical composition comprising a protein or partial peptide of the invention may be administered against a disease (particularly a malignant tumor) or disorder involving decreased expression of the protein or partial peptide. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the entirety or part of a nucleic acid of the invention may also be administered.

[0087] According to another embodiment, a pharmaceutical composition comprising antisense, neutralizing antibodies or a competitive inhibitor for a protein or partial peptide of the invention may be administered against a disease or disorder involving increased expression of the protein or peptide, to either suppress expression or inhibit the function of the protein or peptide.

[0088] Particularly when a nucleic acid of the invention is used for gene therapy for the purpose described above, the nucleic acid may be inserted into a vector used for gene transfer and the inserted gene may be expressed in the body of the patient under any desired expression promoter for treatment of cancer, for example.

[0089] The vector for insertion of the nucleic acid is preferably constructed based on a DNA or RNA virus. There are no particular limitations on the type of virus vector, and there may be used MoMLV vector, herpes virus vector, adenovirus vector, AAV vector, HIV vector, SIV vector, Sendai virus vector and the like.

[0090] There may be used, alternatively, a pseudotyped virus vector wherein one or more of the constitutive proteins of -the virus vector is replaced with a constitutive protein of a different type of virus, or wherein a portion of the nucleic acid sequence of the genetic information is replaced with a nucleic acid sequence of another type of virus. As an example there may be mentioned a pseudotyped virus vector wherein Env protein, the coat protein of HIV, is replaced with VSV-G protein, the coat protein of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV) (Naldini L. et al., Science 272:263-267 (1996)).

[0091] So long as the virus has a therapeutic effect, it may be used as a virus vector even if its host range is other than human. Non-virus-derived vectors may also be used, such as calcium phosphate/nucleic acid complexes, liposomes, cationic lipid complexes, Sendai virus liposomes, polymer carriers with polycationic backbone, and the like. The gene transfer system used may be electroporation, a gene gun, or the like.

[0092] An expression cassette including an expression promoter is preferred for gene expression of the nucleic acid of the invention inserted into the aforementioned vector.

[0093] The expression cassette used may be of any type which allows expression of the gene in target cells, with no particular limitations. One skilled in the art can easily select such an expression cassette, which is preferably an expression cassette allowing gene expression in animal-derived cells, more preferably an expression cassette allowing gene expression in mammalian cells and even more preferably an expression cassette allowing gene expression in human cells.

[0094] The expression cassette may include, in addition to the nucleic acid of the invention, various sequences such as a promoter or enhancer for the gene transcription, a polyA signal, a marker gene for labeling and/or selecting the gene-inserted cells, a viral gene sequence for efficient insertion of the gene into the genomic DNA sequence of the cell, and a signal sequence for extracellular secretion and/or local intracellular accumulation of the drug-acting substance produced by the gene expression.

[0095] For promoters sequences to be used in the expression cassette, there may be mentioned promoters derived from such viruses as adenovirus, cytomegalovirus, human immunodeficiency virus, simian virus 40, Rous sarcoma virus, herpes simplex virus, mouse leukemia virus, sindbis virus, hepatitis A virus, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, papillomavirus, human T cell leukemia virus, influenza virus, Japanese encephalitis virus, JC virus, parvovirus B19 and poliovirus, mammalian promoters such as albumin, SRa, heat shock protein and elongation factor promoters, chimeric promoters such as CAG promoter, and promoters whose activity is induced by tetracycline, steroids and the like.

[0096] (3) Pharmaceutical Composition

[0097] The nucleic acids, proteins and partial peptides of this invention are used for treatment in the form of appropriate pharmaceutical compositions. The nucleic acids or the like are therefore prepared according to the formulation method described below, a preferred route of administration is established, and the dosage is determined so as to achieve the desired therapeutic effect.

[0098] (Formulation Method)

[0099] The pharmaceutical composition comprising a nucleic acid, protein or peptide according to the invention is not particularly limited, and a drug may be constructed by encapsulation in liposomes, fine particles or microcapsules, expression in recombinant cells, receptor-mediated ingestion, or as a retrovirus or a portion of another type of vector.

[0100] More specifically, a recombinant virus vector comprising a nucleic acid of the invention may be dissolved in an appropriate solvent such as water, physiological saline or an isotonized buffer solution to prepare a composition containing the nucleic acid of the invention. Alternatively, a protein or partial peptide of the invention may be dissolved in an appropriate solvent such as water, physiological saline or an isotonized buffer solution to prepare a composition containing the protein or partial peptide of the invention. Polyethylene glycol, glucose, various amino acids, collagen, albumin or the like may be added as protective materials for the preparation.

[0101] The pharmaceutical composition of the invention may be formulated in neutralized form or in the form of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts include those formed with the free amino group of a protein or peptide, such as those derived from hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, acetic acid, oxalic acid, tartaric acid or the like, and those formed with the free carboxyl group of a protein or peptide, such as those derived from sodium, potassium, ammonium, calcium, iron (II) hydroxide, isopropylamine, triethylamine, 2-ethylaminoethanol, histidine, procaine or the like.

[0102] (Administration Method and Dosage)

[0103] When a pharmaceutical composition of this invention is administered to the body, there are no particular limitations on the method of administration. It may be preferably carried out by injection intradermally, intramuscularly, intraperitoneally, intravenously, hypodermically or intranasally, for example. The dosage of the pharmaceutical composition of the invention will depend on the route of administration and the condition, age, body weight, sex, etc. of the administered patient, and the optimum dosage for a given patient may be determined by the practicing physician. In the case of injection, for example, the dosage is preferably about 0.1 μg/kg to 1000 mg/kg per day, and more preferably about 1 μg/kg to 100 mg/kg per day.

[0104] (4) Target Diseases and Disorders

[0105] There are no particular limitations on the target disease or disorder to be treated with a nucleic acid, protein or partial peptide of the invention as a drug, so long as the function of the nucleic acid, etc. is directly or indirectly associated with the condition. As mentioned above, introduction of antisense to the nucleic acid of the invention into normal cells promotes anchorage-independent growth of the normal cells and increases tumorigenesis. Accordingly, the nucleic acids, proteins and partial peptides of the invention clearly suppress normal cell canceration, and are particularly useful against malignant tumors.

[0106] There are no particular limitations on malignant tumors as targets of treatment by the nucleic acids, etc. of the invention, and there may be mentioned acute leukemia, chronic leukemia, lymphoma, fibrosarcoma, myxosarcoma, liposarcoma, hepatic cell carcinoma, choriocarcinoma, seminoma, embryonal carcinoma, Wilms tumor, bile duct carcinoma, testicular carcinoma, cervical carcinoma, lung carcinoma, small lung cell carcinoma, bladder carcinoma, epithelial carcinoma, glial cell carcinoma, medulloblastoma, epithelial cell carcinoma, angioblastoma, melanoma, neuroblastoma, retinoblastoma, chondrosarcoma, angiosarcoma, endothelial sarcoma, lymphangiosarcoma, colon carcinoma, breast carcinoma, ovarian carcinoma, prostate carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, papillary carcinoma, papillar adenoma, cystadenocarcinoma and renal cell carcinoma. When the nucleic acids, etc. of the invention are used for treatment of malignant tumors, their function allows them to also be used as drugs to suppress metastasis of malignant tumors.

[0107] (5) Antisense (Nucleic Acid)

[0108] According to another embodiment of this invention, antisense nucleic acid is used which suppresses expression of a gene disclosed by the invention (including nucleic acids of the invention), to achieve a therapeutic or prophylactic effect. Here, “antisense nucleic acid” refers to a nucleic acid that can hybridize to a portion of RNA (preferably mRNA) of a gene of the invention due to a certain degree of sequence complementarity.

[0109] The antisense nucleic acid used may be in the form of a double-stranded or single-stranded, and either RNA or DNA (encoding the RNA) oligonucleotide, or a chimeric mixture thereof. The antisense nucleic acid is not particularly limited, and may consist of an oligonucleotide of preferably 5-500 and more preferably 200-500 bases. The oligonucleotide may also be modified in its base portion, ribose portion or phosphate backbone.

[0110] As a specific embodiment, the antisense nucleic acid may be used in the form of a catalytic RNA, ribozyme, or chimeric RNA-DNA analog.

[0111] The antisense nucleic acid may be synthesized by a method known to one skilled in the art using, for example, an automated DNA synthesizer.

[0112] When the antisense nucleic acid is used for the purpose of treatment or prevention, it may be administered to a patient as a pharmaceutical composition in the same manner described above for other nucleic acids, but most preferably, it is directly administered to specific cells (for example, cancer cells). Cells may also be transformed with a vector comprising DNA encoding RNA antisense nucleic acid, or transfected, to produce the antisense nucleic acid in the cells by transcription.

[0113] (6) Antibodies

[0114] According to yet another embodiment of the invention, antibodies against a protein or partial peptide of the invention, or fragments thereof including the binding domains, may be used as therapeutic or diagnostic agents. Specifically, for use as a therapeutic agent, an antibody may be bound to a specific region of a protein of the invention to act as an antagonist or agonist. For use as a diagnostic agent, antibodies may be used in various types of immunoassays for detection and measurement of a protein of the invention, as mentioned above.

[0115] The antibodies may be prepared using the protein or partial peptide of the invention, or its fragment, analog or derivative, as an immunogen according to methods known to one skilled in the art. For such antibodies, there may be mentioned polyclonal antibodies, monoclonal antibodies, chimeric antibodies, single-stranded antibodies, Fab fragments, or antibodies derived from an FAB expression library.

[0116] (7) Knockout Animals

[0117] According to still another embodiment of the invention, there may be provided a nucleic acid sequence which knocks out expression of a gene of the invention, and knockout animals having that sequence inserted therein as a transgene. Cancer model animals may be constructed based on this information.

[0118] The invention will now be described in greater detail by way of examples; however, these examples are in no way limitative on the invention.

EXAMPLES Example 1

[0119] Cloning of Full-Length cDNA

[0120] Working from the amino acid sequence for the motor domain-lacking kinesin-related protein (SEQ ID NO: 1), the 5′ end was cloned from a human embryonic brain library (Clontech) using a SMART RACE cDNA Amplification Kit (Clontech). The base sequence of the cloned DNA fragment was determined according to an established protocol (Sanger F. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 74:5463-5467 (1977)). The entire base sequences of both strands were analyzed.

[0121] The analysis results identified a DNA fragment for the known motor domain-lacking kinesin-related protein plus an additional 1390 base pairs at the 5′ end. A search for the translation region of the fragment revealed an 85 base pair 5′ end non-translation region, a 5472 base pair translation region and a 1353 base pair 3′ non-translation region. The translated protein consisted of 1824 amino acids and had a molecular weight of 205,065 daltons. The amino acid sequence of the translated protein is set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2, and the base sequence of the translation region is set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4. This novel kinesin-related protein was designated as KIF1b-β. The base sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 has been registered at DDBJ, GenBank and EMBL (Accession No.: AB017133).

Example 2

[0122] Measurement of Gene Expression in Human Neuroblastomas with Good and Unfavorable Prognosis by Semi-Quantitative PCR

[0123] PCR primers were synthesized from portions of the KIF1b-β gene and used for comparative measurement of expression in neuroblastoma clinical tissue samples with favorable prognosis and unfavorable prognosis. The sequences of the synthesized PCR primers are set forth in SEQ ID NO: 5 (forward primer) and SEQ ID NO: 6 (reverse primer). mRNA was extracted from human neuroblastoma clinical tissue samples and subjected to PCR reaction using rTaq (Takara Shuzo). Specifically, 5 μl of sterile distilled water, 2 μl of the mRNA, 1 μl of 10× rTaq buffer, 1 μl of 2 mM dNTPs, 0.5 μl each of the synthesized primer set and 0.5 μl of rTaq were combined. The mixture was denatured at 95° C. for 2 minutes and then a cycle of 95° C. for 15 seconds, 63° C. for 15 seconds and 72° C. for 20 seconds was repeated for 35 cycles, followed by 6 minutes of standing at 72° C. to complete the PCR reaction. The reaction solution was electrophoresed on 2.5% agarose gel. The results are shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B.

[0124] The results in FIG. 1 confirmed enhanced expression of the KIF1b-β gene only in human neuroblastoma with favorable prognosis.

Example 3

[0125] Studies on Effects of KIF1b-β Gene and Motor Domain-Lacking Kinesin-Related Gene on Tumor Growth by Genetic Suppressor Element (GSE) Method (1)

[0126] “GSE” refers to a short biologically active gene fragment encoding a dominantly acting peptide or inhibitory antisense RNA. The method employing GSE as a tool in molecular oncology is known as the GSE method, and its concept and strategy is summarized in Roninson IB et al., Cancer Res. 55:4023-4028 (1995). Specifically, the GSE method may be applied for functional analysis of any gene in connection with tumor growth. The technique involves gene transfer into a receiving cell using a retrovirus vector and packaging cell, and determining the presence or absence of tumorigenesis. FIG. 2 shows an overview of this technique in sequence. More specifically, antisense to the gene of interest is inserted into the receiving cells, resulting in suppression of the gene function in the cells. Consequently, if the antisense-inserted cells acquire tumorigenic qualities, such as anchorage-independent growth, it may be concluded that the original function of the gene exerts negative control on tumorigenesis.

[0127] Following the protocol of Garkavtsev et al. (Garkavtsev I. et al., Nature Genet. 4, 415-420 (1996)), a retrovirus vector was constructed to express antisense to the KIF1b-β gene (KIF1b-β) and the motor domain-lacking kinesin-related gene (also referred to as “KIFAS”), and was used for transfection of murine mammary gland cells. The antisense sequence used is set forth in SEQ ID NO: 7. The antisense was ligated to a synthetic adapter, and the sense strand of the adapter was used as a PCR primer for PCR amplification. The PCR-amplified DNA was cloned in a retrovirus vector pLXSN, and the obtained plasmid library was transfected into BOSC23 virus packaging cells. Murine mammary gland cells (non-tumorized, immortalized murine mammary gland cells: NMUMG) were infected with the retrovirus-containing culture supernatant liquid. The infected murine mammary gland cells were cultured on soft agar medium (soft agarose gel) and the presence of anchorage-independent growth was observed. As a (negative) control there were used murine mammary gland cells with a neomycin resistance gene inserted in the same manner. The soft agar medium used was comprised of a lower layer (DMEM, 10% FCS, 0.6% agar) and an upper layer (DMEM, 10% FCS, 0.3% agar), and 5×10⁴ of the cells were transferred to the soft agar medium (10 cm plate) and allowed to stand at 37° C. for 6-7 weeks. The observation results are shown in FIG. 3A (KIFAS-inserted cells) and FIG. 3B (negative control).

[0128] As shown by the results in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, marked anchorage-independent growth was observed-in the KIFAS-transformed murine mammary gland cells as compared to the negative control.

[0129] In the same manner as above, the full-length cDNA for the KIF1b-β gene (SEQ ID NO: 4) was inserted into an adenovirus vector and used to infect NMuMG breast carcinoma cells. The cells were grown in medium and the growth curve was determined, as shown in FIG. 4. As a control, there were used NMuMG breast carcinoma cells infected with a vector containing only the LacZ promoter. In the drawing, “MOI” represents the number of viruses for infection per cell.

[0130] The full-length cDNA for the KIF1b-β gene was also inserted into an adenovirus vector and used to infect NB-C201 cells (a homozygous-deficient, or KIF1b-β gene-lacking neuroblastoma cell line). The cells were grown in medium and the growth curve was determined, as shown in FIG. 5.

[0131] Both FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 show that introduction of the KIF1b-β gene suppresses cancer cell growth.

Example 4

[0132] Studies on Effects of KIF1b-β Gene and Motor Domain-Lacking Kinesin-Related Gene on Tumor Growth by GSE Method (2)

[0133] Using the same method as described in Example 3, murine mammary gland cells infected with a KIFAS expressing retrovirus vector were transplanted under the femoral skin of a nude mouse, and the presence or absence of tumorigenesis was confirmed. As a (negative) control, there were used murine mammary gland cells having a neomycin resistance gene inserted in the same manner as Example 3, and these were also transplanted under the skin of a nude mouse. The results are shown in FIG. 6A (KIFAS-inserted) and FIG. 6B (negative control).

[0134] As shown by the results in FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B, marked tumorigenesis was observed when the KIFAS-transformed murine mammary gland cells were transplanted under the femoral skin of the nude mouse, as compared to the negative control.

[0135] KIFAS-transformed murine mammary gland cells and neomycin resistance gene-inserted murine mammary gland cells were also transplanted into 5 nude mice each of a treated group and a control group, and the changes in the sizes of the formed tumors were measured. The results are shown in FIG. 7, which clearly shows an increase in tumor size during the 5 weeks after transplantation in the treated group.

[0136] Industrial Applicability

[0137] The nucleic acids of this invention are DNA or RNA for novel kinesin-related genes with a motor domain, which elucidate the base sequence data of the kinesin-related genes.

[0138] The nucleic acids of this invention or their fragments may be used as probes or primers for various types of hybridization or PCR toward detection of expression of the kinesin-related genes in tissues or cells and analysis of their structures and functions. The kinesin proteins encoded by the genes may be produced by genetic engineering.

[0139] Moreover, since expression of the nucleic acids of the invention is enhanced only in neuroblastoma clinical tissue with favorable prognosis, the prognosis of neuroblastoma may be diagnosed based on their level of expression.

[0140] It was confirmed that suppressing expression of the KIF1b-β gene and the motor domain-lacking kinesin-related gene with antisense nucleic acids according to the invention promotes anchorage-independent growth of normal cells which inherently only grow in an anchorage-dependent manner. That is, it was demonstrated that the genes function to suppress canceration of normal cells. It was also further discovered that introducing the KIF1b-β gene into cancer cells suppress growth of the cells. Based on these findings, the nucleic acids, proteins, etc. of this invention may be used as anticancer agents for treatment of malignant tumors, for the purpose of suppressing canceration of cells.

1 7 1 1381 PRT Homo sapiens 1 Met Gly Ser Leu Thr Ser Ser Pro Ser Ser Cys Ser Leu Ser Ser Gln 1 5 10 15 Val Gly Leu Thr Ser Val Thr Ser Ile Gln Glu Arg Ile Met Ser Thr 20 25 30 Pro Gly Gly Glu Glu Ala Ile Glu Arg Leu Lys Glu Ser Glu Lys Ile 35 40 45 Ile Ala Glu Leu Asn Glu Thr Trp Glu Glu Lys Leu Arg Lys Thr Glu 50 55 60 Ala Ile Arg Met Glu Arg Glu Ala Leu Leu Ala Glu Met Gly Val Ala 65 70 75 80 Ile Arg Glu Asp Gly Gly Thr Leu Gly Val Phe Ser Pro Lys Lys Thr 85 90 95 Pro His Leu Val Asn Leu Asn Glu Asp Pro Leu Met Ser Glu Cys Leu 100 105 110 Leu Tyr Tyr Ile Lys Asp Gly Ile Thr Arg Val Gly Gln Ala Asp Ala 115 120 125 Glu Arg Arg Gln Asp Ile Val Leu Ser Gly Ala His Ile Lys Glu Glu 130 135 140 His Cys Ile Phe Arg Ser Glu Arg Ser Asn Ser Gly Glu Val Ile Val 145 150 155 160 Thr Leu Glu Pro Cys Glu Arg Ser Glu Thr Tyr Val Asn Gly Lys Arg 165 170 175 Val Ser Gln Pro Val Gln Leu Arg Ser Gly Asn Arg Ile Ile Met Gly 180 185 190 Lys Asn His Val Phe Arg Phe Asn His Pro Glu Gln Ala Arg Ala Glu 195 200 205 Arg Glu Lys Thr Pro Ser Ala Glu Thr Pro Ser Glu Pro Val Asp Trp 210 215 220 Thr Phe Ala Gln Arg Glu Leu Leu Glu Lys Gln Gly Ile Asp Met Lys 225 230 235 240 Gln Glu Met Glu Lys Arg Leu Gln Glu Met Glu Ile Leu Tyr Lys Lys 245 250 255 Glu Lys Glu Glu Ala Asp Leu Leu Leu Glu Gln Gln Arg Leu Asp Tyr 260 265 270 Glu Ser Lys Leu Gln Ala Leu Gln Lys Gln Val Glu Thr Arg Ser Leu 275 280 285 Ala Ala Glu Thr Thr Glu Glu Glu Glu Glu Glu Glu Glu Val Pro Trp 290 295 300 Thr Gln His Glu Phe Glu Leu Ala Gln Trp Ala Phe Arg Lys Trp Lys 305 310 315 320 Ser His Gln Phe Thr Ser Leu Arg Asp Leu Leu Trp Gly Asn Ala Val 325 330 335 Tyr Leu Lys Glu Ala Asn Ala Ile Ser Val Glu Leu Lys Lys Lys Val 340 345 350 Gln Phe Gln Phe Val Leu Leu Thr Asp Thr Leu Tyr Ser Pro Leu Pro 355 360 365 Pro Glu Leu Leu Pro Thr Glu Met Glu Lys Thr His Glu Asp Arg Pro 370 375 380 Phe Pro Arg Thr Val Val Ala Val Glu Val Gln Asp Leu Lys Asn Gly 385 390 395 400 Ala Thr His Tyr Trp Ser Leu Glu Lys Leu Lys Gln Arg Leu Asp Leu 405 410 415 Met Arg Glu Met Tyr Asp Arg Ala Gly Glu Met Ala Ser Ser Ala Gln 420 425 430 Asp Glu Ser Glu Thr Thr Val Thr Gly Ser Asp Pro Phe Tyr Asp Arg 435 440 445 Phe His Trp Phe Lys Leu Val Gly Ser Ser Pro Ile Phe His Gly Cys 450 455 460 Val Asn Glu Arg Leu Ala Asp Arg Thr Pro Ser Pro Thr Phe Ser Thr 465 470 475 480 Ala Asp Ser Asp Ile Thr Glu Leu Ala Asp Glu Gln Gln Asp Glu Met 485 490 495 Glu Asp Phe Asp Asp Glu Ala Phe Val Asp Asp Ala Gly Ser Asp Ala 500 505 510 Gly Thr Glu Glu Gly Ser Asp Leu Phe Ser Asp Gly His Asp Pro Phe 515 520 525 Tyr Asp Arg Ser Pro Trp Phe Ile Leu Val Gly Arg Ala Phe Val Tyr 530 535 540 Leu Ser Asn Leu Leu Tyr Pro Val Pro Leu Ile His Arg Val Ala Ile 545 550 555 560 Val Ser Glu Lys Gly Glu Val Arg Gly Phe Leu Arg Val Ala Val Gln 565 570 575 Ala Ile Ala Ala Asp Glu Glu Ala Pro Asp Tyr Gly Ser Gly Ile Arg 580 585 590 Gln Ser Gly Thr Ala Lys Ile Ser Phe Asp Asn Glu Tyr Phe Asn Gln 595 600 605 Ser Asp Phe Ser Ser Val Ala Met Thr Arg Ser Gly Leu Ser Leu Glu 610 615 620 Glu Leu Arg Ile Val Glu Gly Gln Gly Gln Ser Ser Glu Val Ile Thr 625 630 635 640 Pro Pro Glu Glu Ile Ser Arg Ile Asn Asp Leu Asp Leu Lys Ser Ser 645 650 655 Thr Leu Leu Asp Gly Lys Met Val Met Glu Gly Phe Ser Glu Glu Ile 660 665 670 Gly Asn His Leu Lys Leu Gly Ser Ala Phe Thr Phe Arg Val Thr Val 675 680 685 Leu Gln Ala Ser Gly Ile Leu Pro Glu Tyr Ala Asp Ile Phe Cys Gln 690 695 700 Phe Asn Phe Leu His Arg His Asp Glu Ala Phe Ser Thr Glu Pro Leu 705 710 715 720 Lys Asn Asn Gly Arg Gly Ser Pro Leu Ala Phe Tyr His Val Gln Asn 725 730 735 Ile Ala Val Glu Ile Thr Glu Ser Phe Val Asp Tyr Ile Lys Thr Lys 740 745 750 Pro Ile Val Phe Glu Val Phe Gly His Tyr Gln Gln His Pro Leu His 755 760 765 Leu Gln Gly Gln Glu Leu Asn Ser Pro Pro Gln Pro Cys Arg Arg Phe 770 775 780 Phe Pro Pro Pro Met Pro Leu Ser Lys Pro Val Pro Ala Thr Lys Leu 785 790 795 800 Asn Thr Met Ser Lys Thr Ser Leu Gly Gln Ser Met Ser Lys Tyr Asp 805 810 815 Leu Leu Val Trp Phe Glu Ile Ser Glu Leu Glu Pro Thr Gly Glu Tyr 820 825 830 Ile Pro Ala Val Val Asp His Thr Ala Gly Leu Pro Cys Gln Gly Thr 835 840 845 Phe Leu Leu His Gln Gly Ile Gln Arg Arg Ile Thr Val Thr Ile Ile 850 855 860 His Glu Lys Gly Ser Glu Leu His Trp Lys Asp Val Arg Glu Leu Val 865 870 875 880 Val Gly Arg Ile Arg Asn Lys Pro Glu Val Asp Glu Ala Ala Val Asp 885 890 895 Ala Ile Leu Ser Leu Asn Ile Ile Ser Ala Lys Tyr Leu Lys Ser Ser 900 905 910 His Asn Ser Ser Arg Thr Phe Tyr Arg Phe Glu Ala Val Trp Asp Ser 915 920 925 Ser Leu His Asn Ser Leu Leu Leu Asn Arg Val Thr Pro Tyr Gly Glu 930 935 940 Lys Ile Tyr Met Thr Leu Ser Ala Tyr Leu Glu Leu Asp His Cys Ile 945 950 955 960 Gln Pro Ala Val Ile Thr Lys Asp Val Cys Met Val Phe Tyr Ser Arg 965 970 975 Asp Ala Lys Ile Ser Pro Pro Arg Ser Leu Arg Ser Leu Phe Gly Ser 980 985 990 Gly Tyr Ser Lys Ser Pro Asp Ser Asn Arg Val Thr Gly Ile Tyr Glu 995 1000 1005 Leu Ser Leu Cys Lys Met Ser Asp Thr Gly Ser Pro Gly Met Gln Arg 1010 1015 1020 Arg Arg Arg Lys Ile Leu Asp Thr Ser Val Ala Tyr Val Arg Gly Glu 1025 1030 1035 1040 Glu Asn Leu Ala Gly Trp Arg Pro Arg Gly Asp Ser Leu Ile Leu Glu 1045 1050 1055 His Gln Trp Glu Leu Glu Lys Leu Glu Leu Leu His Glu Val Glu Lys 1060 1065 1070 Thr Arg His Phe Leu Leu Leu Arg Glu Arg Leu Gly Asp Ser Ile Pro 1075 1080 1085 Lys Ser Leu Ser Asp Ser Leu Ser Pro Ser Leu Ser Ser Gly Thr Leu 1090 1095 1100 Ser Thr Ser Thr Ser Ile Ser Ser Gln Ile Ser Thr Thr Thr Phe Glu 1105 1110 1115 1120 Ser Ala Ile Thr Pro Ser Glu Ser Ser Gly Tyr Asp Ser Gly Asp Ile 1125 1130 1135 Glu Ser Leu Val Asp Arg Glu Lys Glu Leu Ala Thr Lys Cys Leu Gln 1140 1145 1150 Leu Leu Thr His Thr Phe Asn Arg Glu Phe Ser Gln Val His Gly Ser 1155 1160 1165 Val Ser Asp Cys Lys Leu Ser Asp Ile Ser Pro Ile Gly Arg Asp Pro 1170 1175 1180 Ser Glu Ser Ser Phe Ser Ser Ala Thr Leu Thr Pro Ser Ser Thr Cys 1185 1190 1195 1200 Pro Ser Leu Val Asp Ser Arg Ser Asn Ser Leu Asp Gln Lys Thr Pro 1205 1210 1215 Glu Ala Asn Ser Arg Ala Ser Ser Pro Cys Pro Glu Phe Glu Gln Phe 1220 1225 1230 Gln Ile Val Pro Ala Val Glu Thr Pro Tyr Leu Ala Arg Ala Gly Lys 1235 1240 1245 Asn Glu Phe Leu Asn Leu Val Pro Asp Ile Glu Glu Ile Arg Pro Ser 1250 1255 1260 Ser Val Val Ser Lys Lys Gly Tyr Leu His Phe Lys Glu Pro Leu Tyr 1265 1270 1275 1280 Ser Asn Trp Ala Lys His Phe Val Val Val Arg Arg Pro Tyr Val Phe 1285 1290 1295 Ile Tyr Asn Ser Asp Lys Asp Pro Val Glu Arg Gly Ile Ile Asn Leu 1300 1305 1310 Ser Thr Ala Gln Val Glu Tyr Ser Glu Asp Gln Gln Ala Met Val Lys 1315 1320 1325 Thr Pro Asn Thr Phe Ala Val Cys Thr Lys His Arg Gly Val Leu Leu 1330 1335 1340 Gln Ala Leu Asn Asp Lys Asp Met Asn Asp Trp Leu Tyr Ala Phe Asn 1345 1350 1355 1360 Pro Leu Leu Ala Gly Thr Ile Arg Ser Lys Leu Ser Arg Arg Cys Pro 1365 1370 1375 Ser Gln Ser Lys Tyr 1380 2 1823 PRT Homo sapiens 2 Met Ser Gly Ala Ser Val Lys Val Ala Val Arg Val Arg Pro Phe Asn 1 5 10 15 Ser Arg Glu Thr Ser Lys Glu Ser Lys Cys Ile Ile Gln Met Gln Gly 20 25 30 Asn Ser Thr Ser Ile Ile Asn Pro Lys Asn Pro Lys Glu Ala Pro Lys 35 40 45 Ser Phe Ser Phe Asp Tyr Ser Tyr Trp Ser His Thr Ser Pro Glu Asp 50 55 60 Pro Cys Phe Ala Ser Gln Asn Arg Val Tyr Asn Asp Ile Gly Lys Glu 65 70 75 80 Met Leu Leu His Ala Phe Glu Gly Tyr Asn Val Cys Ile Phe Ala Tyr 85 90 95 Gly Gln Thr Gly Ala Gly Lys Ser Tyr Thr Met Met Gly Lys Gln Glu 100 105 110 Glu Ser Gln Ala Gly Ile Ile Pro Gln Leu Cys Glu Glu Leu Phe Glu 115 120 125 Lys Ile Asn Asp Asn Cys Asn Glu Glu Met Ser Tyr Ser Val Glu Val 130 135 140 Ser Tyr Met Glu Ile Tyr Cys Glu Arg Val Arg Asp Leu Leu Asn Pro 145 150 155 160 Lys Asn Lys Gly Asn Leu Arg Val Arg Glu His Pro Leu Leu Gly Pro 165 170 175 Tyr Val Glu Asp Leu Ser Lys Leu Ala Val Thr Ser Tyr Thr Asp Ile 180 185 190 Ala Asp Leu Met Asp Ala Gly Asn Lys Ala Arg Thr Val Ala Ala Thr 195 200 205 Asn Met Asn Glu Thr Ser Ser Arg Ser His Ala Val Phe Thr Ile Val 210 215 220 Phe Thr Gln Lys Lys His Asp Asn Glu Thr Asn Leu Ser Thr Glu Lys 225 230 235 240 Val Ser Lys Ile Ser Leu Val Asp Leu Ala Gly Ser Glu Arg Ala Asp 245 250 255 Ser Thr Gly Ala Lys Gly Thr Arg Leu Lys Glu Gly Ala Asn Ile Asn 260 265 270 Lys Ser Leu Thr Thr Leu Gly Lys Val Ile Ser Ala Leu Ala Glu Val 275 280 285 Asp Asn Cys Thr Ser Lys Ser Lys Lys Lys Lys Lys Thr Asp Phe Ile 290 295 300 Pro Tyr Arg Asp Ser Val Leu Thr Trp Leu Leu Arg Glu Asn Leu Gly 305 310 315 320 Gly Asn Ser Arg Thr Ala Met Val Ala Ala Leu Ser Pro Ala Asp Ile 325 330 335 Asn Tyr Asp Glu Thr Leu Ser Thr Leu Arg Tyr Ala Asp Arg Ala Lys 340 345 350 Gln Ile Lys Cys Asn Ala Val Ile Asn Glu Gly Pro Asn Ala Lys Leu 355 360 365 Val Arg Glu Leu Lys Glu Glu Val Thr Arg Leu Lys Asp Leu Leu Arg 370 375 380 Ala Gln Gly Leu Gly Asp Ile Ile Asp Ile Asp Pro Leu Ile Asp Asp 385 390 395 400 Tyr Ser Gly Ser Gly Ser Lys Tyr Leu Lys Asp Phe Gln Asn Asn Lys 405 410 415 His Arg Tyr Leu Leu Ala Ser Glu Asn Gln Arg Pro Gly His Phe Ser 420 425 430 Thr Ala Ser Met Gly Ser Leu Thr Ser Ser Pro Ser Ser Cys Ser Leu 435 440 445 Ser Ser Gln Val Gly Leu Thr Ser Val Thr Ser Ile Gln Glu Arg Ile 450 455 460 Met Ser Thr Pro Gly Gly Glu Glu Ala Ile Glu Arg Leu Lys Glu Ser 465 470 475 480 Glu Lys Ile Ile Ala Glu Leu Asn Glu Thr Trp Glu Glu Lys Leu Arg 485 490 495 Lys Thr Glu Ala Ile Arg Met Glu Arg Glu Ala Leu Leu Ala Glu Met 500 505 510 Gly Val Ala Ile Arg Glu Asp Gly Gly Thr Leu Gly Val Phe Ser Pro 515 520 525 Lys Lys Thr Pro His Leu Val Asn Leu Asn Glu Asp Pro Leu Met Ser 530 535 540 Glu Cys Leu Leu Tyr Tyr Ile Lys Asp Gly Ile Thr Arg Val Gly Gln 545 550 555 560 Ala Asp Ala Glu Arg Arg Gln Asp Ile Val Leu Ser Gly Ala His Ile 565 570 575 Lys Glu Glu His Cys Ile Phe Arg Ser Glu Arg Ser Asn Ser Gly Glu 580 585 590 Val Ile Val Thr Leu Glu Pro Cys Glu Arg Ser Glu Thr Tyr Val Asn 595 600 605 Gly Lys Arg Val Ser Gln Pro Val Gln Leu Arg Ser Gly Asn Arg Ile 610 615 620 Ile Met Gly Lys Asn His Val Phe Arg Phe Asn His Pro Glu Gln Ala 625 630 635 640 Arg Ala Glu Arg Glu Lys Thr Pro Ser Ala Glu Thr Pro Ser Glu Pro 645 650 655 Val Asp Trp Thr Phe Ala Gln Arg Glu Leu Leu Glu Lys Gln Gly Ile 660 665 670 Asp Met Lys Gln Glu Met Glu Lys Arg Leu Gln Glu Met Glu Ile Leu 675 680 685 Tyr Lys Lys Glu Lys Glu Glu Ala Asp Leu Leu Leu Glu Gln Gln Arg 690 695 700 Leu Asp Tyr Glu Ser Lys Leu Gln Ala Leu Gln Lys Gln Val Glu Thr 705 710 715 720 Arg Ser Leu Ala Ala Glu Thr Thr Glu Glu Glu Glu Glu Glu Glu Glu 725 730 735 Val Pro Trp Thr Gln His Glu Phe Glu Leu Ala Gln Trp Ala Phe Arg 740 745 750 Lys Trp Lys Ser His Gln Phe Thr Ser Leu Arg Asp Leu Leu Trp Gly 755 760 765 Asn Ala Val Tyr Leu Lys Glu Ala Asn Ala Ile Ser Val Glu Leu Lys 770 775 780 Lys Lys Val Gln Phe Gln Phe Val Leu Leu Thr Asp Thr Leu Tyr Ser 785 790 795 800 Pro Leu Pro Pro Glu Leu Leu Pro Thr Glu Met Glu Lys Thr His Glu 805 810 815 Asp Arg Pro Phe Pro Arg Thr Val Val Ala Val Glu Val Gln Asp Leu 820 825 830 Lys Asn Gly Ala Thr His Tyr Trp Ser Leu Glu Lys Leu Lys Gln Arg 835 840 845 Leu Asp Leu Met Arg Glu Met Tyr Asp Arg Ala Gly Glu Met Ala Ser 850 855 860 Ser Ala Gln Asp Glu Ser Glu Thr Thr Val Thr Gly Ser Asp Pro Phe 865 870 875 880 Tyr Asp Arg Phe His Trp Phe Lys Leu Val Gly Ser Ser Pro Ile Phe 885 890 895 His Gly Cys Val Asn Glu Arg Leu Ala Asp Arg Thr Pro Ser Pro Thr 900 905 910 Phe Ser Thr Ala Asp Ser Asp Ile Thr Glu Leu Ala Asp Glu Gln Gln 915 920 925 Asp Glu Met Glu Asp Phe Asp Asp Glu Ala Phe Val Asp Asp Ala Gly 930 935 940 Ser Asp Ala Gly Thr Glu Glu Gly Ser Asp Leu Phe Ser Asp Gly His 945 950 955 960 Asp Pro Phe Tyr Asp Arg Ser Pro Trp Phe Ile Leu Val Gly Arg Ala 965 970 975 Phe Val Tyr Leu Ser Asn Leu Leu Tyr Pro Val Pro Leu Ile His Arg 980 985 990 Val Ala Ile Val Ser Glu Lys Gly Glu Val Arg Gly Phe Leu Arg Val 995 1000 1005 Ala Val Gln Ala Ile Ala Ala Asp Glu Glu Ala Pro Asp Tyr Gly Ser 1010 1015 1020 Gly Ile Arg Gln Ser Gly Thr Ala Lys Ile Ser Phe Asp Asn Glu Tyr 1025 1030 1035 1040 Phe Asn Gln Ser Asp Phe Ser Ser Val Ala Met Thr Arg Ser Gly Leu 1045 1050 1055 Ser Leu Glu Glu Leu Arg Ile Val Glu Gly Gln Gly Gln Ser Ser Glu 1060 1065 1070 Val Ile Thr Pro Pro Glu Glu Ile Ser Arg Ile Asn Asp Leu Asp Leu 1075 1080 1085 Lys Ser Ser Thr Leu Leu Asp Gly Lys Met Val Met Glu Gly Phe Ser 1090 1095 1100 Glu Glu Ile Gly Asn His Leu Lys Leu Gly Ser Ala Phe Thr Phe Arg 1105 1110 1115 1120 Val Thr Val Leu Gln Ala Ser Gly Ile Leu Pro Glu Tyr Ala Asp Ile 1125 1130 1135 Phe Cys Gln Phe Asn Phe Leu His Arg His Asp Glu Ala Phe Ser Thr 1140 1145 1150 Glu Pro Leu Lys Asn Asn Gly Arg Gly Ser Pro Leu Ala Phe Tyr His 1155 1160 1165 Val Gln Asn Ile Ala Val Glu Ile Thr Glu Ser Phe Val Asp Tyr Ile 1170 1175 1180 Lys Thr Lys Pro Ile Val Phe Glu Val Phe Gly His Tyr Gln Gln His 1185 1190 1195 1200 Pro Leu His Leu Gln Gly Gln Glu Leu Asn Ser Pro Pro Gln Pro Cys 1205 1210 1215 Arg Arg Phe Phe Pro Pro Pro Met Pro Leu Ser Lys Pro Val Pro Ala 1220 1225 1230 Thr Lys Leu Asn Thr Met Ser Lys Thr Ser Leu Gly Gln Ser Met Ser 1235 1240 1245 Lys Tyr Asp Leu Leu Val Trp Phe Glu Ile Ser Glu Leu Glu Pro Thr 1250 1255 1260 Gly Glu Tyr Ile Pro Ala Val Val Asp His Thr Ala Gly Leu Pro Cys 1265 1270 1275 1280 Gln Gly Thr Phe Leu Leu His Gln Gly Ile Gln Arg Arg Ile Thr Val 1285 1290 1295 Thr Ile Ile His Glu Lys Gly Ser Glu Leu His Trp Lys Asp Val Arg 1300 1305 1310 Glu Leu Val Val Gly Arg Ile Arg Asn Lys Pro Glu Val Asp Glu Ala 1315 1320 1325 Ala Val Asp Ala Ile Leu Ser Leu Asn Ile Ile Ser Ala Lys Tyr Leu 1330 1335 1340 Lys Ser Ser His Asn Ser Ser Arg Thr Phe Tyr Arg Phe Glu Ala Val 1345 1350 1355 1360 Trp Asp Ser Ser Leu His Asn Ser Leu Leu Leu Asn Arg Val Thr Pro 1365 1370 1375 Tyr Gly Glu Lys Ile Tyr Met Thr Leu Ser Ala Tyr Leu Glu Leu Asp 1380 1385 1390 His Cys Ile Gln Pro Ala Val Ile Thr Lys Asp Val Cys Met Val Phe 1395 1400 1405 Tyr Ser Arg Asp Ala Lys Ile Ser Pro Pro Arg Ser Leu Arg Ser Leu 1410 1415 1420 Phe Gly Ser Gly Tyr Ser Lys Ser Pro Asp Ser Asn Arg Val Thr Gly 1425 1430 1435 1440 Ile Tyr Glu Leu Ser Leu Cys Lys Met Ser Asp Thr Gly Ser Pro Gly 1445 1450 1455 Met Gln Arg Arg Arg Arg Lys Ile Leu Asp Thr Ser Val Ala Tyr Val 1460 1465 1470 Arg Gly Glu Glu Asn Leu Ala Gly Trp Arg Pro Arg Gly Asp Ser Leu 1475 1480 1485 Ile Leu Glu His Gln Trp Glu Leu Glu Lys Leu Glu Leu Leu His Glu 1490 1495 1500 Val Glu Lys Thr Arg His Phe Leu Leu Leu Arg Glu Arg Leu Gly Asp 1505 1510 1515 1520 Ser Ile Pro Lys Ser Leu Ser Asp Ser Leu Ser Pro Ser Leu Ser Ser 1525 1530 1535 Gly Thr Leu Ser Thr Ser Thr Ser Ile Ser Ser Gln Ile Ser Thr Thr 1540 1545 1550 Thr Phe Glu Ser Ala Ile Thr Pro Ser Glu Ser Ser Gly Tyr Asp Ser 1555 1560 1565 Gly Asp Ile Glu Ser Leu Val Asp Arg Glu Lys Glu Leu Ala Thr Lys 1570 1575 1580 Cys Leu Gln Leu Leu Thr His Thr Phe Asn Arg Glu Phe Ser Gln Val 1585 1590 1595 1600 His Gly Ser Val Ser Asp Cys Lys Leu Ser Asp Ile Ser Pro Ile Gly 1605 1610 1615 Arg Asp Pro Ser Glu Ser Ser Phe Ser Ser Ala Thr Leu Thr Pro Ser 1620 1625 1630 Ser Thr Cys Pro Ser Leu Val Asp Ser Arg Ser Asn Ser Leu Asp Gln 1635 1640 1645 Lys Thr Pro Glu Ala Asn Ser Arg Ala Ser Ser Pro Cys Pro Glu Phe 1650 1655 1660 Glu Gln Phe Gln Ile Val Pro Ala Val Glu Thr Pro Tyr Leu Ala Arg 1665 1670 1675 1680 Ala Gly Lys Asn Glu Phe Leu Asn Leu Val Pro Asp Ile Glu Glu Ile 1685 1690 1695 Arg Pro Ser Ser Val Val Ser Lys Lys Gly Tyr Leu His Phe Lys Glu 1700 1705 1710 Pro Leu Tyr Ser Asn Trp Ala Lys His Phe Val Val Val Arg Arg Pro 1715 1720 1725 Tyr Val Phe Ile Tyr Asn Ser Asp Lys Asp Pro Val Glu Arg Gly Ile 1730 1735 1740 Ile Asn Leu Ser Thr Ala Gln Val Glu Tyr Ser Glu Asp Gln Gln Ala 1745 1750 1755 1760 Met Val Lys Thr Pro Asn Thr Phe Ala Val Cys Thr Lys His Arg Gly 1765 1770 1775 Val Leu Leu Gln Ala Leu Asn Asp Lys Asp Met Asn Asp Trp Leu Tyr 1780 1785 1790 Ala Phe Asn Pro Leu Leu Ala Gly Thr Ile Arg Pro Gly His Leu Ala 1795 1800 1805 Ser Glu Ile Ile Arg Glu Asp Lys Ser Val Ser Phe Ser Cys Gln 1810 1815 1820 3 4146 DNA Homo sapiens 3 atggggtccc tcacttcatc cccatcttcc tgctcactca gtagtcaggt gggcttgacg 60 tctgtgacca gtattcaaga gaggatcatg tctacacctg gaggagagga agctattgaa 120 cgtttaaagg aatcagagaa gatcattgct gagttgaatg aaacttggga agagaagctt 180 cgtaaaacag aggccatcag aatggagaga gaggctttgt tggctgagat gggagttgcc 240 attcgggaag atggaggaac cctaggggtt ttctcaccta aaaagacccc acatcttgtt 300 aacctcaatg aagacccact aatgtctgag tgcctacttt attacatcaa agatggaatt 360 acaagggttg gccaagcaga tgctgagcgg cgccaggaca tagtgctgag cggggctcac 420 attaaagaag agcattgtat cttccggagt gagagaagca acagcgggga agttatcgtg 480 accttagagc cctgtgagcg ctcagaaacc tacgtaaatg gcaagagggt gtcccagcct 540 gttcagctgc gctcaggaaa ccgtatcatc atgggtaaaa accatgtttt ccgctttaac 600 cacccggaac aagcacgagc tgagcgagag aagactcctt ctgctgagac cccctctgag 660 cctgtggact ggacatttgc ccagagggag cttctggaaa aacaaggaat tgatatgaaa 720 caagagatgg agaaaaggct acaggaaatg gagatcttat acaaaaagga gaaggaagaa 780 gcagatcttc ttttggagca gcagagactg gactatgaga gtaaattgca ggccttgcag 840 aagcaggttg aaacccgatc tctggctgca gaaacaactg aagaggagga agaagaggaa 900 gaagttcctt ggacacagca tgaatttgag ttggcccaat gggccttccg gaaatggaag 960 tctcatcagt ttacttcatt acgggactta ctctggggca atgccgtgta cctaaaggag 1020 gccaatgcca tcagtgtgga actgaaaaag aaggtgcagt ttcagtttgt tctgctgact 1080 gacacactgt actccccttt gcctcctgaa ttacttccca ctgagatgga aaaaactcat 1140 gaggacaggc ctttccctcg cacagtggta gcagtagaag tccaggattt gaagaatgga 1200 gcaacacact attggtcttt ggagaaactc aagcagaggc tggatttgat gcgagagatg 1260 tatgataggg caggggagat ggcctccagt gcccaagacg aaagcgaaac cactgtgact 1320 ggcagcgatc ccttctatga tcggttccac tggttcaaac ttgtggggag ctcccccatt 1380 ttccacggct gtgtgaacga gcgccttgcc gaccgcacac cctcccccac tttttccacg 1440 gccgattccg acatcactga gctggctgac gagcagcaag atgagatgga ggattttgat 1500 gatgaggcat tcgtggatga cgccggctct gacgcaggga cggaggaggg atcagatctc 1560 ttcagtgacg ggcatgaccc gttttacgac cgatcccctt ggttcatttt agtgggaagg 1620 gcatttgttt acctgagcaa tctgctgtat cccgtgcccc tgatccacag ggtggccatc 1680 gtcagtgaga aaggtgaagt gcggggattt ctgcgtgtgg ctgtacaggc catcgcagcg 1740 gatgaagaag ctcctgatta tggctctgga attcgacagt caggaacagc taaaatatct 1800 tttgataatg aatactttaa tcagagtgac ttttcgtctg ttgcaatgac tcgttctggt 1860 ctgtccttgg aggagttgag gattgtggaa ggacagggtc agagttctga ggtcatcact 1920 cctccagaag aaatcagtcg aattaatgac ttggatttga agtcaagcac tttgctggat 1980 ggtaagatgg taatggaagg gttttctgaa gagattggca accacctgaa actgggcagt 2040 gccttcactt tccgagtaac agtgttgcag gccagtggaa tcctcccaga gtatgcagat 2100 atcttctgtc agttcaactt tttgcatcgc catgatgaag cattctccac ggagcccctc 2160 aaaaacaatg gcagaggaag tcccctggcc ttttatcatg tgcagaatat tgcagtggag 2220 atcactgaat catttgtgga ttacatcaaa accaagccta ttgtatttga agtctttggg 2280 cattatcagc agcacccact tcatctgcaa ggacaggagc ttaacagtcc gcctcagccg 2340 tgccgccgat tcttccctcc acccatgcca ctgtccaagc cagttccagc caccaagtta 2400 aacacgatga gcaaaaccag ccttggccag agcatgagca agtatgacct cctggtttgg 2460 tttgagatca gtgaactgga gcctacagga gagtatatcc cagctgtggt tgaccacaca 2520 gcaggcttgc cttgccaggg gacatttttg cttcatcagg gcatccagcg aaggatcaca 2580 gtgaccatta tccatgagaa ggggagcgag ctccattgga aagatgttcg tgaactggtg 2640 gtaggtcgta ttcggaataa gcctgaggtg gatgaagctg cagttgatgc catcctctcc 2700 ctaaatatta tttctgccaa gtacctgaag tcttcccaca actctagcag gaccttctac 2760 cgctttgagg ctgtgtggga tagctctctg cataactccc ttcttctgaa ccgagtgaca 2820 ccctatggag aaaagatcta catgaccttg tcggcctacc tagagctgga tcattgcatc 2880 cagccggctg tcatcaccaa ggatgtgtgc atggtcttct actcccgaga tgccaagatc 2940 tcaccaccac gctctctgcg tagcctcttt ggcagcggct actcaaagtc accagattcg 3000 aatcgagtca ctggcattta cgaactcagc ttatgcaaaa tgtcagacac aggtagtcca 3060 ggtatgcaga gaaggagaag aaaaatctta gatacgtcag tggcatatgt gcggggagaa 3120 gagaacttag caggctggcg gccccgtgga gacagcctca tccttgagca ccagtgggag 3180 ctggagaagc tggagctcct acatgaggtg gaaaaaaccc gccacttttt gctgctgcgt 3240 gagagacttg gtgacagcat ccccaaatcc ctgagcgact cgttatcccc cagcctcagc 3300 agtgggaccc tcagcacctc caccagtatc tcctctcaga tctcaaccac tacctttgaa 3360 agcgccatca cacctagcga gagcagtggc tatgattcag gagacatcga aagcctggtg 3420 gaccgagaga aagagctggc taccaagtgc ctgcaacttc tcacccacac tttcaacaga 3480 gaattcagcc aggtgcacgg cagcgtcagt gactgtaagt tgtctgatat ctctccaatt 3540 ggacgggatc cctctgagtc cagtttcagc agtgccaccc tcactccctc ctccacctgt 3600 ccctctctgg tagactctag gagcaactct ctggatcaga agaccccaga agccaattcc 3660 cgggcctcta gtccctgccc agaatttgaa cagtttcaga ttgtcccagc tgtggaaaca 3720 ccatatttgg cccgagcagg aaaaaacgaa tttctcaatc ttgttccaga tattgaagaa 3780 attagaccaa gctcagtggt ctctaagaaa ggataccttc atttcaagga gcctctttac 3840 agtaactggg ctaaacattt tgttgtcgtc cgtcggcctt atgtcttcat ctataacagt 3900 gacaaagacc ctgtggagcg tggaatcatt aacctgtcca cagcacaggt ggagtacagt 3960 gaggaccagc aggccatggt gaagacacca aacacctttg ctgtctgcac aaagcaccgt 4020 ggggtccttt tgcaggccct caatgacaaa gacatgaacg actggttgta tgccttcaac 4080 ccacttctag ctggcacaat acggtcaaag ctttcccgca gatgcccgag ccagtcgaaa 4140 tactaa 4146 4 5472 DNA Homo sapiens 4 atgtcgggag cctcagtgaa ggtggctgtc cgggtaaggc ccttcaattc tcgagagacc 60 agcaaggaat ccaaatgcat cattcagatg caaggcaact cgaccagtat tattaaccca 120 aagaatccaa aggaagctcc aaagtccttc agcttcgact attcctactg gtctcatacc 180 tcacccgaag atccctgttt tgcatctcaa aaccgtgtgt acaatgacat tggcaaggaa 240 atgctcttac acgcctttga gggatataat gtctgtattt ttgcctatgg gcagactggt 300 gctggaaaat cttatacaat gatgggtaaa caagaagaaa gccaggctgg catcattcca 360 cagttatgtg aagaactttt tgagaaaatc aatgacaact gtaatgaaga aatgtcttac 420 tctgtagagg tgagctacat ggaaatttac tgtgaaagag tacgagattt gctgaatcca 480 aaaaacaagg gtaatttgcg tgtgcgtgaa cacccacttc ttggacccta tgtggaggat 540 ctgtccaagt tggcagttac ttcctacaca gacattgctg acctcatgga tgctgggaac 600 aaagccagga cagtggcagc tacaaacatg aatgaaacaa gtagccgttc ccacgctgtg 660 tttacgattg ttttcaccca gaagaaacac gataatgaga ccaacctttc cactgagaag 720 gtcagtaaaa tcagcttggt ggatctagca ggaagtgaac gagctgattc aactggtgcc 780 aaagggactc gattaaagga aggagcaaat attaataagt ctcttacaac tttgggcaaa 840 gtcatttcag ccttggccga ggtggataac tgcactagca agagtaaaaa gaagaagaaa 900 acagatttta ttccctacag ggattctgta cttacttggc tccttcgaga aaatttaggt 960 ggcaattctc ggactgcaat ggttgctgct ctgagccccg cggatatcaa ctacgatgag 1020 actttgagca ctctgagata tgcagatcgt gcaaaacaaa ttaaatgcaa tgctgttatc 1080 aatgagggcc ccaatgccaa gctggttcgt gaattaaagg aggaggtgac acggctgaag 1140 gaccttcttc gtgctcaggg cctgggagat attattgata ttgatccact gatcgatgat 1200 tactctggaa gtggaagcaa atatctgaaa gattttcaga acaataagca tagatacttg 1260 ctagcctctg agaatcaacg ccctggccat ttttccacag catccatggg gtccctcact 1320 tcatccccat cttcctgctc actcagtagt caggtgggct tgacgtctgt gaccagtatt 1380 caagagagga tcatgtctac acctggagga gaggaagcta ttgaacgttt aaaggaatca 1440 gagaagatca ttgctgagtt gaatgaaact tgggaagaga agcttcgtaa aacagaggcc 1500 atcagaatgg agagagaggc tttgttggct gagatgggag ttgccattcg ggaagatgga 1560 ggaaccctag gggttttctc acctaaaaag accccacatc ttgttaacct caatgaagac 1620 ccactaatgt ctgagtgcct actttattac atcaaagatg gaattacaag ggttggccaa 1680 gcagatgctg agcggcgcca ggacatagtg ctgagcgggg ctcacattaa agaagagcat 1740 tgtatcttcc ggagtgagag aagcaacagc ggggaagtta tcgtgacctt agagccctgt 1800 gagcgctcag aaacctacgt aaatggcaag agggtgtccc aacctgttca gctgcgctca 1860 ggaaaccgta tcatcatggg taaaaaccat gttttccgct ttaaccaccc ggaacaagca 1920 cgagctgagc gagagaagac tccttctgct gagaccccct ctgagcctgt ggactggaca 1980 tttgcccaga gggagcttct ggaaaaacaa ggaattgata tgaaacaaga gatggagaaa 2040 aggctacagg aaatggagat cttatacaaa aaggagaagg aagaagcaga tcttcttttg 2100 gagcagcaga gactggacta tgagagtaaa ttgcaggcct tgcagaagca ggttgaaacc 2160 cgatctctgg ctgcagaaac aactgaagag gaggaagaag aagaagaagt tccttggaca 2220 cagcatgaat ttgagttggc ccaatgggcc ttccggaaat ggaagtctca tcagtttact 2280 tcattacggg acttactctg gggcaatgcc gtgtacctaa aggaggccaa tgccatcagt 2340 gtggaactga aaaagaaggt gcagtttcag tttgttctgc tgactgacac actgtactcc 2400 cctttgcctc ctgaattact tcccactgag atggaaaaaa ctcatgagga caggcctttc 2460 cctcgcacag tggtagcagt agaagtccag gatttgaaga atggagcaac acactattgg 2520 tctttggaga aactcaagca gaggctggat ttgatgcgag agatgtatga tagggcaggg 2580 gagatggcct ccagtgccca agacgaaagc gaaaccactg tgactggcag cgatcccttc 2640 tatgatcggt tccactggtt caaacttgtg gggagctccc ccattttcca cggctgtgtg 2700 aacgagcgcc ttgccgaccg cacaccctcc cccacttttt ccacggccga ttccgacatc 2760 actgagctgg ctgacgagca gcaagatgag atggaggatt ttgatgatga ggcattcgtg 2820 gatgacgccg gctctgacgc agggacggag gagggatcag atctcttcag tgacgggcat 2880 gacccgtttt acgaccgatc cccttggttc attttagtgg gaagggcatt tgtttacctg 2940 agcaatctgc tgtatcccgt gcccctgatc cacagggtgg ccatcgtcag tgagaaaggt 3000 gaagtgcggg gatttctgcg tgtggctgta caggccatcg cagcggatga agaagctcct 3060 gattatggct ctggaattcg acagtcagga acagctaaaa tatcttttga taatgaatac 3120 tttaatcaga gtgacttttc gtctgttgca atgactcgtt ctggtctgtc cttggaggag 3180 ttgaggattg tggaaggaca gggtcagagt tctgaggtca tcactcctcc agaagaaatc 3240 agtcgaatta atgacttgga tttgaagtca agcactttgc tggatggtaa gatggtaatg 3300 gaagggtttt ctgaagagat tggcaaccac ctgaaactgg gcagtgcctt cactttccga 3360 gtaacagtgt tgcaggccag tggaatcctc ccagagtatg cagatatctt ctgtcagttc 3420 aactttttgc atcgccatga tgaagcattc tccacggagc ccctcaaaaa caatggcaga 3480 ggaagtcccc tggcctttta tcatgtgcag aatattgcag tggagatcac tgaatcattt 3540 gtggattaca tcaaaaccaa gcctattgta tttgaagtct ttgggcatta tcagcagcac 3600 ccacttcatc tgcaaggaca ggagcttaac agtccgcctc agccgtgccg ccgattcttc 3660 cctccaccca tgccactgtc caagccagtt ccagccacca agttaaacac gatgagcaaa 3720 accagccttg gccagagcat gagcaagtat gacctcctgg tttggtttga gatcagtgaa 3780 ctggagccta caggagagta tatcccagct gtggttgacc acacagcagg cttgccttgc 3840 caggggacat ttttgcttca tcagggcatc cagcgaagga tcacagtgac cattatccat 3900 gagaagggga gcgagctcca ttggaaagat gttcgtgaac tggtggtagg tcgtattcgg 3960 aataagcctg aggtggatga agctgcagtt gatgccatcc tctccctaaa tattatttct 4020 gccaagtacc tgaagtcttc ccacaactct agcaggacct tctaccgctt tgaggctgtg 4080 tgggatagct ctctgcataa ctcccttctt ctgaaccgag tgacacccta tggagaaaag 4140 atctacatga ccttgtcggc ctacctagag ctggatcatt gcatccagcc ggctgtcatc 4200 accaaggatg tgtgcatggt cttctactcc cgagatgcca agatctcacc accacgctct 4260 ctgcgtagcc tctttggcag cggctactca aagtcaccag attcgaatcg agtcactggc 4320 atttacgaac tcagcttatg caaaatgtca gacacaggta gtccaggtat gcagagaagg 4380 agaagaaaaa tcttagatac gtcagtggca tatgtgcggg gagaagagaa cttagcaggc 4440 tggcggcccc gtggagacag cctcatcctt gagcaccagt gggagctgga gaagctggag 4500 ctcctacatg aggtggaaaa aacccgccac tttttgctgc tgcgtgagag acttggtgac 4560 agcatcccca aatccctgag cgactcgtta tcccccagcc tcagcagtgg gaccctcagc 4620 acctccacca gtatctcctc tcagatctca accactacct ttgaaagcgc catcacacct 4680 agcgagagca gtggctatga ttcaggagac atcgaaagcc tggtggaccg agagaaagag 4740 ctggctacca agtgcctgca acttctcacc cacactttca acagagaatt cagccaggtg 4800 cacggcagcg tcagtgactg taagttgtct gatatctctc caattggacg ggatccctct 4860 gagtccagtt tcagcagtgc caccctcact ccctcctcca cctgtccctc tctggtagac 4920 tctaggagca actctctgga tcagaagacc ccagaagcca attcccgggc ctctagtccc 4980 tgcccagaat ttgaacagtt tcagattgtc ccagctgtgg aaacaccata tttggcccga 5040 gcaggaaaaa acgaatttct caatcttgtt ccagatattg aagaaattag accaagctca 5100 gtggtctcta agaaaggata ccttcatttc aaggagcctc tttacagtaa ctgggctaaa 5160 cattttgttg tcgtccgtcg gccttatgtc ttcatctata acagtgacaa agaccctgtg 5220 gagcgtggaa tcattaacct gtccacagca caggtggagt acagtgagga ccagcaggcc 5280 atggtgaaga caccaaacac ctttgctgtc tgcacaaagc accgtggggt ccttttgcag 5340 gccctcaatg acaaagacat gaacgactgg ttgtatgcct tcaacccact tctagctggc 5400 acaatacgac caggtcatct ggcttccgag atcatcagag aagataagtc tgtctctttc 5460 agctgccagt aa 5472 5 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence PCR Primer 5 ctattggtct ttggagaaac 20 6 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence PCR Primer 6 tacagccaca cgcagaaatc 20 7 302 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic antisense nucleotide sequence 7 gacattggca aggaaatgct cttacacgcc tttgagggat ataatgtctg tatttttgcc 60 tatgggcaga ctggtgctgg aaaatcttat acaatgatgg gtaaacaaga agaaagccag 120 gctggcatca ttccacagtt atgtgaagaa ctttttgaga aaatcaatga caactgtaat 180 gaagaaatgt cttactctgt agaggtgagc tacatggaaa tttactgtga aagagtacga 240 gatttgctga atccaaaaaa caagggtaat ttgcgtgtgc gtgaacaccc acttcttgga 300 cc 302 

1. A nucleic acid having the base sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 in the Sequence Listing.
 2. A nucleic acid having a base sequence encoding a protein comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 in the Sequence Listing.
 3. A nucleic acid which is a fragment of the nucleic acid according to claim 1 or
 2. 4. A nucleic acid capable of hybridizing to the nucleic acid according to claim 1 or
 2. 5. A nucleic acid having the base sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 7 in the Sequence Listing.
 6. An antisense nucleic acid to the nucleic acid according to claim 1 or
 2. 7. An antisense nucleic acid having the base sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 7 in the Sequence Listing, characterized by promoting anchorage-independent growth of normal cells upon introduction into normal cells.
 8. A protein having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 in the Sequence Listing, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 9. A protein having an amino acid sequence substantially identical to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 in the Sequence Listing and whose absence induces tumorigenesis of normal cells, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 10. The protein according to claim 9, wherein the amino acid sequence substantially identical to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 in the Sequence Listing is an amino acid sequence derivable by the substitution or the deletion of one or more amino acids in the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 in the Sequence Listing, or by the addition of one or more amino acids to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 in the Sequence Listing, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 11. A protein having an the amino acid sequence derivable by the substitution or the deletion of one or more amino acids in the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, or by the addition of one or more amino acids to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 and whose absence induces tumorigenesis of normal cells, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 12. A partial peptide which is a functionally effective fragment of a protein having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 in the Sequence Listing, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 13. An anticancer agent comprising a protein having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 in the Sequence Listing, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 14. An anticancer agent comprising a protein having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 in the Sequence Listing, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 15. An anticancer agent comprising a nucleic acid having the base sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 3 in the Sequence Listing.
 16. An anticancer agent comprising a nucleic acid having the base sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 in the Sequence Listing.
 17. A method for diagnosing prognosis of human neuroblastoma, the method comprising detecting the nucleic acid according to claim 1 or a fragment thereof in a neuroblastoma clinical tissue sample.
 18. A nucleic acid probe comprising the following nucleic acid (a) or (b): (a) Nucleic acid having a portion of the base sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 in the Sequence Listing, or a base sequence complementary thereto; (b) Nucleic acid which hybridizes to nucleic acid having the base sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 in the Sequence Listing under stringent conditions.
 19. A primer comprising the following DNA (a) or (b): (a) DNA having a portion of the base sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 in the Sequence Listing, or a base sequence complementary thereto; (b) DNA which hybridizes to DNA having the base sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 in the Sequence Listing under stringent conditions.
 20. A prognosis diagnosing kit for neuroblastoma comprising as an effective component thereof, the probe according to claim 18 or the primer according to claim
 19. 